How to Wear Metallic Makeup This Spring

Elizabeth Street

Makeup has the knack for enhancing our personas. Adding a swipe of red lipstick for a romantic date night or shading in your eyebrows before a client can have the same results as donning a superhero costume-it gives us that boost of confidence, that dose of adrenaline that makes us feel like we can accomplish anything. Of course there are the accouterments that are meant for concealment, the appliques that hide unsightly blemishes and large pores. But when it comes to having fun with the world of beauty, nothing beats channeling your inner glamazon.


Though we all have our own beauty routine, it never hurts to try something new. Since we have been riding the embellishment train for quite some time-from the glitzy fashions to the sparkling accessories-it only makes sense to try the trend on our faces. The metallic eyes and lips seen on the runways of Desigual, Holly Fulton and Donna Karan have inspired us to go that extra mile with our regimen. That said, it is always best to tread with caution, which is why we asked M∙A∙C Cosmetics' senior artist (and super chic mom), Caitlin Callahan, to fill us in on a few tricks of the trade.


1. Warm Versus Cool: Gold, tans, coppers and shades of bronze typically offer a more natural effect, as they complement actual skin tones. For the eyes, try M∙A∙C Cosmetics' Eye Shadow in Amber Lights. M∙A∙C Cosmetics Lipstick in Bronze Shimmer is a great choice for lips. Cooler metallics-silvers and platinums-like M∙A∙C Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Electra-can appear more dramatic.

2. Try Before You Buy: Not all metallic shadows have the same amount of frost-always try before you buy! The more frost, the more dramatic; it all depends on the type of look you're hoping to create.

3. Frosted is Fun: Frosted shadows can sometimes show off more texture in the skin, but that's no reason to be scared off. You can wear metallics anywhere on the face: Under the eye, on the cheekbone, on the lips (like with M∙A∙C Cosmetics' Lipstick in "O"), a touch on the inner lid of the eye with M∙A∙C Cream Color Base in Luna, or even the legs.

4. Go Liquid: A drop of a liquid metallic, like M∙A∙C Cosmetics' Strobe Cream, in your moisturizer or foundation gives the skin a beautiful glow.

5. Au Natural: For a natural look, choose one spot to wear metallic makeup and keep the rest of the face more natural.

6. Versatile Variety: Versatile for day or night: A touch of metallic is gorgeous in the sun, but you'll want to pack it on for night!

7. Soft and Subtle: M∙A∙C Cosmetics' Mineralize products are a soft way to wear metallic: Brush a touch of M∙A∙C Cosmetics' Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle or Gold Deposit on your cheeks for a subtle glow. Or, wet your mineralize and paint it on for drama!

By Barry Samaha

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